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Call to start house pooling project

This is handout picture shows KMC Chief Executive Officer Rudra Singh Tamang (left) receiving an applicantion with the request to begin the house pooling project from a delegate member representing the residents of Kathmandu wards 19, 26 and 27 in Kathman

Aug 18, 2015-Homeowners in inner-city areas in the Capital have requested the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) to build their earthquake-damaged neighbourhoods into integrated dwellings under the house pooling concept.

They took out a rally from Itumbaha to the KMC office on Tuesday and submitted a written application along with their land ownership certificates to KMC Chief Executive Officer Rudra Singh Tamang.

Senior KMC officials, lawmaker Rambir Manandhar, former minister Hishila Yami, political leaders and stakeholders were also present at the programme.

Submitting the application on behalf of the homeowners, Macha Raja Maharjan said that their dwellings should be jointly demolished and rebuilt, but without affecting their cultural and fundamental significance.

He also committed that homeowners will provide complete support and even bear the entire cost if KMC takes the responsibility of building roads, gutters and other public utilities and provide bank guarantee for reconstruction loans.

Tamang has pledged KMC’s full support to the project. “Beginning this week, we will conduct comprehensive discussion on the project and gather resources for the undertaking,” he said. “We will forward a plan to Town Development Fund before Dashain.”

KMC has allocated Rs 10 million in its budget for this fiscal year for detailed study of the project.

People from around 110 households from wards 18, 26 and 27 of Kathmandu, which include neighbourhoods of Kilagal, Suchika Galli and Itumbaha, had participated in the rally.

They said that numerous houses in wards 12 to 30 have sustained severe damage in the earthquake, but they cannot be pulled down individually as nearby houses could be damaged in the process. They want the KMC to take leadership in the house pooling project.

The house pooling project envisions shifting existing homeowners from old and dense neighbourhoods to consolidated zero-cost accommodations by demolishing existing houses in favour of residential blocks with wide roads and enough open spaces.

These blocks will be spread over a large area with common outer walls and other structures.

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